It is in the media, it is all over socials and the question on everyone’s lips, once you get engaged is… Why are weddings so expensive?
So, let’s dive right in shall we!
Couples in the UK typically spend on average between £20,000 and £30,000 on their wedding day (as of 2024). However, that figure can be considerably larger or smaller based on the couple’s budget, location, season and religious/cultural beliefs.
Expenses
The venue (normally the largest expense), the food, photography/videography, the celebrant/registrar, the flowers, the décor, the wedding planner, the invitations, the wedding outfits, the transport, the entertainment, the cake and all the other must haves you would like on your wedding day. All those suppliers you need to book/hire, along with getting married in peak wedding season (summer/weekends), it all starts adding up very quickly.
Suppliers are mainly all small businesses. They have spent years of blood, sweat, tears and love for their talent, homing in their craft. Countless coaching, learning and memberships to keep their skills tip top. You aren’t paying for a big company to pay their staff, you are paying for a family to go to their swimming lessons. Paying for Christmas, or for the supplier to increase their knowledge on their craft. You are investing in a very valuable service and their customer service is second to none. Because they all want and care about the same thing; you as a couple having the best possible day you can. So choose wisely and get to know your supplier before you press book.
In recent years, inflation and increasing demand for wedding-related goods and services have also contributed to rising costs. The market for luxury wedding items—like designer dresses, bespoke catering, and high-end photography—has grown, further pushing up prices across the industry.
Expectations
There is quite a lot of pressure when you first start wedding planning, with who needs to be there, what style of wedding you will have, along with the aesthetics of the day. Your cultural and religious beliefs come in to play here to as there are normally a set of traditions to follow. Social media has a huge role in this, seeing bigger and bigger weddings and feeling that pressure to follow suit and create a memorable and high-quality event for your guests and to keep up with the Jones’, which all lead to higher costs and some couples to spend over budget.
Couples feel obliged to follow all wedding etiquette, going above and beyond for the wedding guest journey and the wedding party.
Weekend Weddings/Destination Weddings
Weddings are becoming weekends of time spent with family and friends. Or couples want those picturesque view and guaranteed sun so are getting married abroad. It all adds to the cost with the extra accommodation, transport, food and entertaining.
So to sum up, yes UK weddings can be expensive because there are so many elements involved in creating a memorable day, and the costs associated with each can quickly add up. However, there are ways to reduce expenses.
i.e.
- Not getting married in peak wedding season or on a weekend
- Having a smaller guest list
- Prioritising your needs and wants for the day
- Forgetting about all the nice to haves or the latest Pinterest trend
- Hire a wedding planner to keep you on track on the budget you have set and getting you the best deals.
Thanks for reading
x Jodie x
Next read my blog on Wedding Traditions in the UK